Printing-press



(No Model.) B'Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B; LAWRENCE. PRINTING PRESS.

No. 475,327, Patented May 24,1892.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE..

WILLIAM B. LAWRENCE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,327, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed April 20, 1891. Serial No. 389,732. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residin'g at Oolumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of printing-presses, and has particular relation to the improvement of the mechanism shown y in my former patent, No. 447,491, dated March form-plate partially inserted therein.

The objects of my invention are to simplify the construction of certain portions of the above-mentioned device, which will be hereinafter specified; to provide effective inkingdisks and superior means for supporting and operating the same; to provide superior operating connection between the parts of my device; to provide the press with an improved form of skeleton-bed, and to produce other improvements, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved press. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same, showing a portion of the frame broken away to line oc a; of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the press. Fig. 4 is an under side view of one of my ink-distributing plates. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view in detail of the distributing-plate ringer-supporting rods. Fig. Gis a front end View of my improved press. Fig. 7 is adetail view in perspective of the skeleton bed, showing a Fig. 8 isa plan view in detail of two hiking-plates shown supported on one arm, and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of pivoting one of the inking-disks.

Similarletters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

l represents the frame of my printing-press, which, as shown, is of the general oblong form, and which consists of four standards 2, which are connected in the usual manner by the frame side pieces 3 and end pieces 4. As shown in the drawings, the sides of the frame `are providedat opposite points, which are approximately at the center of the length of the fram e, with upwardly-extending and rearwardly-inclined frame-arms 5. Extending transversely between the side frame-pieces and rigidly connected therewith is a Stationary and vertical bed-plate 6, the upper end of this bed-plate being opposite the bases of the arms 5. The front face of the bed-plate 6 is provided with a depression 7, which receives, as shown, a form-plate 8, the rear portion of the 6o latter being provided on its under side with a suitable projecting tongue, which enters and rests within a correspondingly-shaped notch in the bottom of the bed-plate, as indicated at 9. This form-plate S is, as shown in the drawings, provided with desired projecting printing-faces 10.

11 represent-s my improved skeleton or travyeling bed-plate,which consist-s, as shown, of a vertical chase-frame 12, the upper end of 7o which is open and the side arms of which are provided on their inner surfaces with suitable vertical grooves, which are adapted to receive the correspondingly-shaped edges of the skeleton form-plate 13, which is provided with openings, as indicated at 94, corresponding in size and position with and adapted to receive the printing projections 10 of the form 8.

The upper portion of the skeleton bed-plate 8o is provided, as shown, with a flanged or enlarged base, which is of slightly greater length than the base proper of the chase-frame, and from the projecting ends of which extend upwardly side arms or plates 14 of about oue- 85 halt` the height of the vertical chaseframe. The upper ends of the side arms 14 of the skeleton bed have secured upon their outer sides, or formed integral therewith, projecting bearing-blocks 15, which are preferably 9o of the tongue-form shown, and from each of which projects near the forward end thereof a pin 16. `The skeleton bed thus formed is movably supported between. the side Walls of the press-frame by having its bearing-blocks 15 projecting and sliding within oppositelylocated horizontal slots 17, which are formed in the upper portion of the frame sides 3 in front of the frame-arms 5. In this manner the form 13 is supported in front of and oproo posite the form 8.

Formed in the center of the width of each of the frame-arms 5, and extending nearly to the outer ends thereof, is a slotted opening or guideway 18, which, extending to the base of the frame, is continued vertically downward in front of the stationary bed 6 to a point about the center of the height of the pressframe, as shown.

19 represents the main shaft of the press, which extends transversely through and is journaled in the frame sides at apoint in rear of the lower end of the stationary bed-plate 6. One end of the shaft 19 projects, as shown,

without one side of the machine, which for distinction I will term the gear side. This outwardly-projecting shaft portion carries, as shown at 20, and near the press-frame a pinion-Wheel. On the outer side of said pinionwheel, at a distance therefrom, the shaft 19 carries a fly-wheel 2l, and without said flywheel loose and tight belt-wheels 22 23.

24 represents a transverse shaft, which passes through and is journaled within the sides of the frame in the upper and rear half thereof, said shaft being in horizontal alignmentwith the center of theslo-t17. This shaft 24 carries on the gear side of the machine a gear-wheel 25 and on the opposite side thereof a cam-disk 26. As described in my saidformer patent for the cam-disks f, both the gearwheel 25 and cam-disk 26 are provided on their inner faces with a continuous cam way or groove formed by the connection of concentric and eccentric grooves 27 and 28.

The upper portions of the side frames 3 are provided, as shown, near their rear ends and opposite the rear half of the gear-wheel and cam-'disk with oppositely-located longitudinal guideways 29, While similar slotted guideways 30 are formed in said upper frame portions in line with and in front of the slots 29 and oppositethe forward half of the gear'and camwheels.

31 represents cross-heads orblocks, which fit and slide, as shown in my said former patent, in the rear frame-guideways 29. These crossheads 3l are connected by a transverse shaft or rod 32, which is rigidly connected therewith. Projecting outwardly from the outer sides of the cross-heads 3l are pins or idlers 33, which project loosely within the cainways of the gear-wheel and disk. Fitting and sliding within the frame-guideways 30 are cross-heads 34, the inner sides of which are connected by a transverse shaft or rod 35. The outersides of the cross-heads 34 have projecting therefrom idlers or pins 36, which extend Within camways of the gear-wheel and cam-disk at points horizontally opposite the idlers 33. These pins 36 are connected on the outer side of the frame with the projecting pins 16 of the bearing blocks or heads of the traveling bed-plate by arms 83.

Bridging the upper sides of the frame-arms 5 is adistributing-disk-supporting arm 37,the body of said arm being rectangular and said body having formed in its opposite sides longitudinal grooves or keyways 38.

39 represents ailat inking-plate,which may be square or oblong and which is provided with a central disk-opening, about the upper end of which projects inwardly a flange or shoulder 40. The upper side of this inkingplate has formed therewith araised rib or arm 41, which bridges the disk-opening in said plate diametrically, as shown. Formed with the centerof the rib 41 are two upwardly-extending lugs 42, which, as shown,are adapted to embrace, loosely, opposite sides of the inking-disk arm 37. These lugs 42 have passing therethrough set-screws 85, the inner ends of which engage with the keyways 38 and which may be tightened against the inner `surface of said keyways to produce a rigid connection of the arms 41and 37.

43 represents an inking-disk, which, as shown, tits loosely in the circular opening in the plate 39 and which bears against the shoulder 40 of the latter. As shown in the drawings, the under surface of this disk is j fiush with the lower face of the plate 39, within which it turns. The upper and central portion of the inking-disk has formed thereon a small ratchet-wheel 44,4which extends within a depression on the under side of the central portion of the rib orarm 41. The inking-disk is provided with the usual central stem 45, which extends `upwardly from the center of the ratchet 44 and which, passing and projecting through an opening formed in 1 the'center of the arm 41, is provided with a anged head consistingof a collar 46, which is connected with the upper end of the stem 45 by a transverse pin 47. In this manner the inking-disk is suspended in a rotating position within the plate 39.

Extending between the under sides of the `frame-arms 5 is a disk-supporting arm 48,

which corresponds with the arms 37. Asproscribed for said upper arm, this lower arm 48 is connected with an inverted plate 49, corresponding with the upper plate 39, and, as prescribed for the upper disk 44 and lower disk 50, is supported in a rotatingposition in s'aid.

lower plate. It will thus be seen that theupper and lower inking-disks are made to face each other on opposite sides of the framearms 5.

Rigidly connected, with each end of the shaft 32 on the inner side of the cross-head 31 is the lower end of an upwardly-extending and forwardly-curved arm.

51 52 represent approximately T-shaped cross-heads or sliding pieces, the stems of which bear and slide within the upper portions of the frame-arm slots 18. These stems of the cross-heads 52 are connected by a transverse rod 53, from which project outwardly near each end thereof rigid lugs 54, to the outer ends of which are pivotally connected the upper ends of the arms 51. The ends of IOO IIO

the outer top pieces or heads of the T-shaped cross-heads 52 are connected by parallel rods 55 56, on each of which is mounted the enlarged end of a pawl or finger 57, the enlarged heads of said pawls being pierced to receive loosely the rods 55 56 and being adjustably connected therewith by set-screws 58, which pass through said pawl-heads and engage with the peripheries of the rods. The forward end of each of these pawls orfingers has j ointedly connected therewith a pawl-head or extension 59, which, as shown in drawings, engages with the teeth of the ratchet 44 of the upper or lower inking-disk, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This pawl is held in spring-contact with the teeth of the ratchet by a spring-strip 60, which covers the joint of the pawl-iinger and its head on the outer sides thereof. Extending upwardly from the centerof the length of the rod or shaft 32 is a short rigid arm 61, the outer end of which arm is pivoted to the rear end of a forwardly-extending rod 62, which has its forward end pivotally connected with the outer end of a short arm 63, the inner end of which is fixed upon a shaft or rod 64, which extends transversely between the upper portions of the frame sides. As shown in the drawings, the shaft 64 has its ends journaled Vin the frame sides and projecting therethrough. To each of the outer projecting ends of the shaft 64 is journaled the inner end of an ink-roller-driving arm 65. Each of these arms 65 extends forwardly in close proximity to the outer side of the press-frame and is provided at about the center of its length with an angular bend, as indicated in the drawings. The forward end portions of the arms 65 are provided with longitudinal slots 66, which have their termination opposite the slot 18 of the frame.

67 represents roller-bearing blocks, which are supported, respectively, in positions adjacent to the inner sides of the frame sides opposite the slots 18, said blocks having outwardly-projecting pins 68, which pass through said slotted openings 18 and carry upon their outer ends frictional-rollers 69. These rollers 69 bear and travel within the slots 66 of the arms 65. As shown in the drawings, inkingrollers 70, arranged one above the other, have their shaft or spindle ends journaled in the inner faces of the blocks 67 near the rear end of the latter, while rollers 72 are similarly journaled between the forward end portions of said blocks. The blocks 67 are further connected by transverse rods 71. Fitting and sliding within the forward portions of the frame slot or guideway 17 are oppositely-located cross-heads 73, between which extends a platen-shaft 74. Upon this platen-shaft is journaled the base or lower portion of the body of a platen 75. Formed with the platen and extending downwardly from its journal is a central arm 76, which is rigidly connected at its lower end with the center of the length of a transverse rod 77,

the ends of which are journaled in oppositelylocated upwardly and forwardly curved slots 78, formed in the frame-plates 79, which are secured to the inner side of the forward end of the press-frame and extend inwardly on opposite sides of said platen-arm. The upper ends of the plate-slots 78 extend horizontally forward a short distance to form shoulders or offsets 80.

81 represent horizontal drive-arms, the rear ends of which are pivoted eccentrically to the outer faces of the disk 26 and gear-wheel 25. The forward ends of the drive-arms are pivotally connected with the outwardly-projecting pins 82, which extend outwardly through the frame side from the platen-shaft crossheads.

In utilizing the above-described press in printing more than one color, the desired skeleton form is supported in the chase of the skeleton bed-plate, as described, and the form 8, having the desired printing projections thereon, which coincide with the openings in the skeleton form, is rigidly supported in the stationary bed-plate, the lower inkingdisk 43 and plate 39 are provided with one color of ink and the upper disk and plate provided with ink of a different color. The rollerbearing blocks being in such position as to cause the rear inking-rollers to bear against the lower portion of the form 8 and the forward rollers bearing against the lower portion of the form 13, the gear-wheel and cam-disk being so turned that the pins 33 project within the centers of the portions 27 of the camways, the pins 36 projecting within the centers of the portions 28 of the camways, and the platen-arm rod 77 being in the lower end of the slots 78 of the plates 79, all as shown in the drawings, the operation of my device is as follows:

Motion is communicated through a suitable *belt to the belt-wheel 23, its shaft 19, and pinion 20. Through engagement of the pinion and gear-wheel 25 motion is transmitted to the shaft 24, which transmits acorresponding motion to the cam-disk 26 on the opposite side of the frame. This rotation of the cam-disk and gear-wheel will bring the cross-head pins 33 into frictional contact with the shoulders of the eccentric grooves 27, and operate thereby to drive the cross-heads 31 rearward in their guideways 29. This rearward movement of the cross-heads 31 and shaft 32 will through the arm 61 cause the partial rotation rearward of the shaft 64. Through this movementof the shaft 64 an upward movement is transmitted through the consequent elevation of the arms 65 to the roller-bearing blocks 67, the pins 68 of the latter traveling within and following the slots 18 of the frame. The rollers having thus been carried to the upper portion of the press, it will be seen that the rear pair of rollers will be made to travel upon the plate 49 and the disk 50, while the forward pair of rollers will travel against the IOO ITO

under side of the upper inking-disk 43 and plate 39. The hereiubefore-described movement of the shaft 32 will also result in a rearward movement of the cross-heads 52 and a consequent corresponding movement of the ratchet-operating nger 57, the spring-actu ated head of said finger orpawl being thus drawn back to engage with a notch over the ratchet wheel. The inkin g rollers having been thus driven to the upper end of the frame, the gear wheel and cam disk will have turned sufficiently to bring the crosshead pins 33 into the portion 28 of the camway, where, owing to said portion being concentric, as described,-said pins will remain for a time idle. The above-described movements of the gear-wheel and cam-disk will, as the rollers are being driven upwardly, as described, cause, through the drive-arms 81, a `forward movement of the cross-heads 73 and a consequent forward movement of the platen 75 and upward and forward movementof the platen-armrod 77. As the cross-head pins 33 `enter the portions 28 of the camway the pins 36 enter the eccentric portion 27 of said camway, which will result through the contact of said pins 36 and the shoulderof the camway portion 27 in a rear sliding movement of thecross-heads 34. This movement of the, cross-heads 34 will result,through the con-` nection therewith of the pins 36 and travel-y ing skeleton bed-plate pins 16, in a rearward movement of said traveling bed-plate, and the movement of the latter will operate to `drive the skeleton form 13 against the form 8, allowing the printing-faces ofthe latterto enter the mortises of the former and bring, the front faces of lsaid printing projections' flush with the front face of said skeleton form. While the inking-rollers are-at rest at the top of the press, the rearward motion ofy the platen Yis continued untiliit presses the paper supported thereon `and to `be printed upon firmly against the faces of the forms to produce the impression. It will be observed that `at this time the ends of the platen-arm rod 77 are supported in the short horizontal portions 80 'of the slots 78, which will insure a direct forward and rearward movement of the platen. `A partial revolution of the gearwheels having been completed, the arms 81 willl force the platen back to its former position, the shaft pins or idlers 33 36 will shift into different positions of the camway, and

the cross-'heads 31 34 will successively return to the first-described position. This movement will result in the forward movement of' the traveling bed-plate and its skeletonform` andthe -downward movement of the rollers to the position :tirst described. The upper and lower disks containing diderent 'colorsrof ink, it will be seen that the move- "ment of the rollers over the two forms will result in vsupplying them with ink ofi der- 'ent colors. 1f desired, it is obvious that by, my construction each of the arms of therink-` ing-disk-supporting arms 37 and 48 may `be provided with two or more inking disks and plates corresponding with those herein shown, and each of said inking disks and plates may be provided with aseparate color or ink, thus imparting to each set of rollers more than one color of ink, and resulting in imparting to the printing-faces a number of different colors.

It is observed that the forward movement of the cross-heads 31 will result in a forward sliding movement of the cross-heads 52, which in turn will result through the fingers of the pawls 57 and their engagement with the ratchet-wheels of the inking-disks in a partial rotation of the latter.

In using my improved press for printingin one color it is obvious that the skeleton form may be removed from the traveling bed-plate, and only the lower inking disk and `plate utilized. From the construction shown and described it will readily be seen that the slotted plates 79 will adord a support for the platen, which will result in the latter being carried in the desired arc of a circle during its movement. v

It is obvious that the method of construction and operation of the skeleton or traveling bed-plate herein shown is a much more simple and neat arrangement than that shown in said former patent. It will also be observed thatwithout adding materially to the expense and complication of the parts shown in said former patent, the desired rotation of the inking-disks for the distribution of ink thereon is attained at the proper intervals.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a printing-press, the combination, with the main frame 1, frame-arms 5, projecting therefrom, and arms 37, bridging said frame-arms and having keyways 38 therein, of an inking-plate 39, havinga central opening, an arm 41, bridging said opening and having central lugs 42, set-screws S5, passing through said lugs and engaging with said keyways of the arms 37, and rotatingink-disk suspended from arm 37 within the inking-plate opening, substantially as specified.

2. In a printing-press, the combination, with thef frame `and parallel frame-arms 5, having slots 18, as described, fixed vertical bed-plate 6 between said frame sides, the movable pri nting-plate, connected roller-bearing blocks 67 opposite said slot 18, pins 68, projecting loosely through said slots, inkingrollers pivoted between said roller-bearing blocks, an inking plate or disk for each set of rollers, and a ratchet-wheel formed therewith, of the rotating gear-wheel 25 and disk 26,

IIO

jointedly connected with arms 5l and slidarms 65, connecting, as described, the shaft ing in frame-grooves 18, rods 55 56, connect- 64 and roller-bearing block-pins 68, substan- Io ing the outer arms of bodies 52, pawls or tially as described.

fingers 57, supported from said rods and engaging with the teeth of the mmHg-disk WILLIAM B' LAWRENCE ratchet-Wheel, arm 6l, projecting from shaft In presence of 32, shaft 64: and arm 63, projecting therefrom, C. C. SHEPHERD,

rod 62, connecting said lugs 61 63, and slotted E. E. BRAGG. 

